prospect than ever that peace will be established in the land, and that we may go onwards in our work without interruption. our You will be glad to learn that on this station we have suffered but little from the causes which have so seriously affected our Mantatee stations. Though at one time we feared that we also should be involved in war, our fears have happily not been realized. The population on this station has been considerably enlarged. Our congregations, both on Sabbath-days and in the week, are large. Our society has increased, and schools are now in a more efficient state than they were at any former period. We have lately commenced a sewingschool for the native women, which promises favourably. Our Sabbath-school is large. Many can read well, and a considerable number are making great progress. Our writing-school is also in a satisfactory state. Several can write tolerably, and we have no doubt but that ere long many will be able to write, as well as read, in their own language. Several young men are also under special tuition, apart from our ordinary school. Our object is to raise up and train native youths, who, we trust, may become efficient teachers of their fellowcountrymen. The good effects of this have already appeared in their taking the lessons which they have received in school, and teaching them to others. We have printed lately a Catechism in the Coranna language. The clicks in this uncouth language render it extremely difficult. I have endeavoured to mark them by arbitrary characters, such as commas, apostrophes, inverted commas, &c., inserted where the clicks occur; and I hope the Catechism will thus be understood. It is, however, only an experiment; and I have considerable doubt whether the Coranna will ever become, to any great extent, a written or a printed language. Indeed, if the Corannas, by intercourse with other natives, become acquainted either with Dutch or Sichuana, the sooner their own language becomes extinct the better. The Coranna station, in connexion with this, is going on well. A chapel, erected with but little expense to the Society, is nearly completed. Our congregations are large, and our school, though small, is in an encouraging state, But the Corannas are a very fickleminded people, wandering from place to place; and we have not unfrequently had the mortification of witnessing our efforts rendered apparently ineffectual by their nomadic habits. Of this tribe, however, we hope better. I baptized one of them last Sabbath, and in meeting the class was much pleased with the simplicity and Christian feeling with which they expressed themselves. considerable number of Corannas from the neighbourhood of the Vaal-River are on their way to join those now living among us. They come for the purpose of being near to the word of God. Thus our station will increase in population, and our sphere of usefulness will be extended. A It is a matter of considerable regret that, on account of the debt on our Society's funds, we cannot proceed to visit the nations dwelling beyond us. The Baraputsa, the Balakhulabaleli, the Makuaking, nations powerful and numerous, and desirous to have the Gospel, offer to us most promising fields of usefulness. The Baraputsa have repeatedly sent to us for a Missionary. Hitherto they have no Teacher, no religion, no light. They have heard of our Missions, and of the God of the white people; and they are anxious that some one should be sent to them to preach the Gospel. But as yet we have to lament that their request has been preferred in vain. With many things to discourage us, we have much cause to rejoice. Our members continue steadfast in their attachment to the cause of God. Our labour is not in vain. But we want a more copious outpouring of the Holy Spirit's influences, and a more simple dependence on God, as he alone can make our efforts a blessing to the people. Extract of a Letter from the Rev. James Cameron, dated Plaatberg, You will doubtless be glad to hear that our new chapel at this place is finished, and was solemnly dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, on Sunday, the 2d instant, when he Rev. Eugene Casalis of the Paris Missionary Society, in compliance with a previous invitation, preached first to the Bastards, or Newlanders, from 1 Tim. i. 15, and then to the Basuto, upon our Both Lord's parable of the talents. sermons were well suited to the occasion, and were heard attentively by the people. The Lord's supper was administered in the afternoon, of which not less than one hundred and fifty persons partook. Amongst the communicants were Mr. Casalis, and four members of his Church, who had accompanied him from. Thaba-Bossir. Names, and sects, and parties were almost forgotten, while a Minister of the French Protestant Church, with the living seals of his ministry kneeling beside him, and two Wesleyan Ministers with their people, merging for the time all ceremonial differences in the grand principle of Christian love, commemorated together the sacrificial death of the world's Redeem er. This union, so congenial to the catholicity of the New Testament, produced a sacred and hallowed pleasure, such as never accompanies religious exclusiveness and intolerance. The Rev. James Allison preached in the evening, from these words: "Of the increase of his government there shall be no end." The familiar and strikinglyappropriate illustrations, which the Preacher's long and intimate acquaintance with all classes of natives in this country enabled him to employ, produced a manifest impression upon the minds of his hearers. In addition to the foregoing particulars, it may be stated that the people of Plaatberg, besides building the chapel in which they now comfortably perform their public devotions, contributed, during the past year, about £40 to the cause of God. This shows their love for the Gospel, and encourages the hope, that at some future day they will take the whole burden of supporting their Minister upon themselves. The Basuto members of the society are not less willing than the Bastards to lend their aid in furtherance of their newlyembraced religion. Silver and gold they have none; but they bring of the fruits of the ground as an offering to the Lord. The religious state of the society is also prosperous. With the conduct of the members in general I have every reason to be satisfied. The ClassLeaders, eleven in number, attend sedulously to the duties of their office, and manifest in all their meetings a due subjection to pastoral authority, which is continually held up to their view in the light of Scripture, and according to the Wesleyan economy. The Local Preachers are unwearied in their efforts to spread abroad the savour of the knowledge of Christ; and though they have not hitherto realized much fruit in the form of saving conversions to God, yet they are clearly rendered the instruments of awakening attention to the subject of religion in the surrounding country, and of increasing the number of our regular hearers on the station. We have two excellent young men in the society, who may, in a year or two, with a little training, be deemed fit to be Assistant Missionaries. They are both at present employed in the work of God, the one as a Schoolmaster and Interpreter, and the other as a Class-Leader and Local Preacher; and from the very satisfactory way in which they fill these offices, we augur their future and more extensive usefulness. I intend this year, by the blessing of God, to devote some time daily to their instruction in grammar, theology, and other branches of useful knowledge; after which, should the divine blessing rest upon my efforts, they will be better qualified to become Assistant Missionaries in this country, than young men generally from the colony. The most difficult part of my task will be so to raise them in the scale of society, as to enable them, in the character of Ministers, to command a proper measure of respect from the natives in general; but the difficulty is by no means unconquerable, as I hope shortly to prove, whilst the benefit to the aborigines of South Africa will be great and lasting. I have only a word to add in reference to Englishmen. Some of them find their way hither as traders and artisans ; and, with but few exceptions, their godless lives are disgraceful to the country which gave them birth. Only last week some Boers brought brandy to the station, which Englishmen bought and drank, in conjunction with the refuse of the Bastard people. By setting my face as a flint against such practices as this, I bring upon myself much enmity and illwill; but I am content to be persecuted for righteousness' sake, not only by the Heathen, but also by my own country. men, whom I have no desire to know any more after the flesh. MISSIONS IN THE WEST INDIES. THE ST. VINCENT'S DISTRICT. THE prosperity of our Missions in the various islands which are included in this District must be regarded with much thankfulness. The several stations in the island of St. Vincent have made rapid and substantial improvement, since the abolition of slavery, both in the number of the church-members, and in that scriptural knowledge and Christian character, for the full attainment of which their previous state afforded only very defective opportunities. The appeal from Trinidad, for the appointment of additional Missionaries to the very large and increasing Negro population of that island, ought to have instant attention; and would be one of the first to command the favourable consideration of the Committee, if the circumstances of the Society would permit any immediate extension of their operations. The Wesleyan Missionary Society have not yet reached the proper limit of their labours, even in the oldest of their Missions. The liberation of the slaves of our West India colonies has opened to our Christian benevolence a very large sphere of activity, which it will require a great addition to the number of Missionaries fully to occupy. The appeal from Trinidad is only one of many, from various quarters, to which the Committee cannot at present give the desired response, for want of the necessary funds. KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT'S.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Messrs. Cullingford and Moister, dated Kingstown, St. Vincent's, February 11th, 1842. THE brethren of the St. Vincent's District assembled in Kingstown, and commenced their annual Meeting on Monday last. It is matter of grateful acknowledgment to Almighty God, that, though two of our number left their Circuits, sick and unable to labour, they are now convalescent, and we have been able to prosecute our important duties, and to come nearly to a close. We do not remember any District-Meeting when we were more unitedly determined to walk in the way of Providence, and to sacrifice all private feeling for the good of our common cause. The stations, both for the present and prospective year, were most agreeably arranged. The brethren seemed more than ever to consider themselves as the Lord's servants, and to be willing to go anywhere at his providential bidding. The Committee's letters were read to the Meeting by our respected Chairman, and we were all encouraged by the gratifying assurance of their entire confidence and approbation. The toils and sufferings of the past year were like a debt fully liquidated by the kind expression of the Committee's anxiety for our prosperity, and willingness to help us to the utmost of their ability. The District-Meeting have great plea sure in being able to report to the Committee an increase of Mission-receipts in this Auxiliary of nearly £300. This increase, considered in connexion with the large sums raised in almost every Circuit for local purposes, is truly surprising, and presents a powerful argument for gratitude to God. Another motive for thankfulness is, the raising up of Missionaries amongst ourselves. We have thus an opportunity of increasing our labourers in the District without any additional expense to the Committee. Our excellent and well-qualified brother Heath enters immediately on his work at Couva; whilst Mr. Durrie, who could not keep his health at Couva, takes the important and interesting country station in Tobago. Mr. Whatton, the candidate from Grenada, appears prospectively for the Biabou Circuit. Mr. Cleaver, the young man recommended last year, but who was detained at home by his mother's opposition to his wishes, re-offers himself for our work; but, as he is not here, his case is referred to a Special District-Meeting, to consist of the brethren in the St. Vincent's Circuits. Should Mr. Cleaver pass his examination, and satisfy the District that every obstacle to his coming out has been removed, we recommend that he be appointed as fourth Preacher in the Kingstown Circuit, which requires and is able to support him. The District cannot forbear to express their deep regret, that the Committee were unable to make the grants for schools, as recommended by the Minutes of last year; but they trust that the Committee's circumstances may soon enable them to take on their list the cases recommended by the Minutes which accompany this letter. In conclusion, the brethren desire to express their devout thankfulness to the great Head of the church for the success vouchsafed to our Circuits generally. Our funds, and number of members in religious society, are all advancing with a pleasing rapidity. We also thank God, that death has not been permitted to invade our borders. Several of the brethren have suffered much from sickness, personal and domestic; but, on the whole, God has been very gracious. We feel unable to express our gratitude in words, and pray that we may have divine assistance to testify our thankfulness by increased zeal and diligence in our great and holy calling. KINGSTOWN, ST. VINCENT'S.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Cullingford, dated Kingstown, I Now send you our list of contributions here to the Mission-fund for the year 1841. You will perceive that there is an increase of about £30 sterling above the preceding year. Had not the calls for local contributions in the Circuit been so great and urgent, we might have advanced on that amount. The new chapel has been opened for some months. The religious services were in the following order :-On Saturday, August 1st, Mr. Brown preached. On Sunday, August 2d, Mr. Limmex preached in the morning, and Mr. Bannister in the evening. The opening services embraced also Monday evening, when Mr. Banfield preached, and the following Sabbath, when I occupied the pulpit, forenoon and evening. The collections which were made at the several services amounted to £300 sterling. The Sabbath services were highly interesting and profitable. It was delightful to see an immense concourse of persons, neatly dressed, with cheerful countenances, engaging, for the first time, in the sacred duties of religion in their second temple. I trust and pray that it may be to many "the house of God, the gate of heaven." There could not have been less than two thousand five hundred persons in the St. Vincent's, March 3d, 1842. chapel on the first Sabbath morning; and the Mission-yard and streets were lined with persons who could not gain admittance. The hearty congratulations of our friends on this event were soothing to my feelings; and I trust that the interest which many of them have evinced for my personal welfare, while engaged in this laborious undertaking, will be gratefully remembered by me. I have laboured and suffered much; but I have been graciously supported under every trial. I commenced the undertaking from a conviction that it was my duty; and, supported by the same conviction, I continued, not deterred by the strife of tongues. Our largest expectations regarding an increased congregation are fully realized. Nearly all the pews are let, and we rejoice together in the prospect of an abundant spiritual harvest. The Mission family, through God's mercy, is well, with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Hurd. Mr. English arrived the day before our District-Meeting commenced. He resides, at present, with me, and will continue to do so for three months longer; when, if all be well, he will be removed to Chateaubelair. GEORGE-TOWN, ST. VINCENT's.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Josias F. Browne, dated George-Town, St. Vincent's, March 18th, 1842. IT is with much pleasure, and gratitude to God, that I inform you of the continued prosperity of this station. Notwithstanding many deaths and removals, we have had an increase, during the past year, of twenty-two members, and there remain on trial forty-seven. have likewise to rejoice in an increase of I knowledge and piety in the people, which evinces itself in their more faithful discharge of their civil and religious duties. Our services are well attended; our new chapel, on Sunday morning, is well filled with attentive hearers; our labours on the estates are valued, which is shown by the numerous attendance on such oc casions; and it is pleasing to have a general testimony borne, by the proprietors and managers, to the good conduct and industry of our people. I consider it to be of essential importance, that estates should be visited, for the purpose of preaching and catechising: we are thus able to talk in a more familiar manner to them, than we can well do from the pulpit on Sunday. I make a point of visiting four estates per week, beside our usual services in GeorgeTown. Our school in this place is still in a good condition: the average attendance is about eighty. Our Sunday-school numbers two hundred in attendance, one half of whom are adults. I earnestly hope you will be able to make the grant of £40 to our day-school, as requested by the District-Meeting: it is indeed a case of great necessity. Mrs. Browne teaches the girls to sew two days in the week; for which they are very grateful. The little information which they get in this way will be of great service to them, as they bring their own work, which she cuts out for them, teaching them at the same time how to do it for themselves. If any of our good friends had any remnants of cotton or calico to spare, they would be of much use here, in the way of presents or rewards; and at the same time enable us to teach them to make their own clothes. SAN FERNANDO, TRINIDAD.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Henry Hurd, dated San Fernando, Trinidad, March 1st, 1842. I LEFT my station to attend the District-Meeting, with the full intention and expectation of returning to it; but the brethren considered it advisable that I should go elsewhere. I feel much, very much, on leaving this station. I came to it two years ago, when there was neither Mission-house nor chapel worthy of being called such, and only a small society of one hundred members. Since then, by the blessing of God, a neat and commodious chapel and Mission-house have been erected, and the society has increased to nearly one handred and eighty members. This station grows in importance every day; and should it please the Almighty to preserve the health of the Missionary, he will, I trust, at the end of the year, be able to report a large accession to his church. During the past year it suffered from having only a part of my time and attention, the other part being devoted to the Couva station. Could a fourth Missionary be located at Woodford-Dale, we should be able to visit several villages and estates, and be likely to do much good. The field is extensive; and if it be not entered upon by Christian Missionaries, many hundreds of precious souls, for whom Christ died, will be left destitute of spiritual instruction, or exposed to the evil influence and teaching of Popish Priests. I am about to labour in another part of the Lord's vineyard; but never shall I cease to feel interested in the welfare of this station. I would that the Committee were relieved from their pecuniary difficulties, and that they could send another Missionary forthwith to Trinidad. PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. John Blackwell, dated Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, March 19th, 1842. IT affords me sincere pleasure to report prosperity in our great and holy work. Our congregations were never so large as now; and a gracious influence rests on all our meetings. Our prayermeetings, not only on the Friday evening, but on four mornings in the week, at five o'clock, are well attended. The God that heareth prayer is eminently present with his pleading people. All our pews are let; and had we twenty more, we could readily dispose of them. An enlargement is therefore much required. But to enlarge a stone building is very expensive; and the walls of our chapel, we fear, are too weak to bear the weight of galleries. It grieves me much, however, to deny chapel-room to such as would worship with us, in a place like this, where Popery reigns over tens of thousands. O, my dear Sirs, if you could witness the scenes of moral degradation which are daily presented to every observer, you would feel and say, that your Committee should do more for Trinidad. On the Sabbath-day the public pleasure-grounds are thronged, at all hours, with cricket-players, equestrians, sportsmen, &c. When we travel to our appointments in the country, it becomes |